Develop goals and objectives
Objectives are general guidelines that explain what you want to achieve. Objectives define strategies or steps to take to attain the identified goal.
A wellness program should have a “destination”. Use the results of your surveys and your wellness committee’s mission statement as guides. Consider these ideas -
o Focus on making medical information and learning resources readily available to staff
o Focus on group activities so employees can work together to support and encourage healthier life choices
o Develop a wellness program that is visible to both workforce and to your patrons
o Focus on written policies and guidelines
o Make sure to set objectives for your wellness program.
Review Guidelines for Writing Objectives.
Health Promotion Program Goals Should be
Specific – A goal is specific when it provides a description of what’ll be accomplished. It will state exactly what the corporation intends to accomplish.
It ought to be written so that it may be easily and clearly communicated. A specific goal will make it easier for those writing objectives and action plans to address the following questions -
o Who is to be involved?
o What is to be accomplished?
o Where’s it to be done?
o When’s it to be done?
Measurable – A goal is measurable when it’s quantifiable. To determine when your goal is measurable, ask questions such as – Just how much? Just how many? Just how will I know when it’s accomplished?
Attainable – You can attain most any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that permits you to carry out those steps. Goals that might have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable.
Realistic – Realistic, means “do-able.” the goal needs to be realistic for your company and where the company is at the moment.
A goal to take out all the high fat items in the vending machine might not be realistic for your corporation right now; a better goal would be to substitute some chips, candy bars and pies for pretzels, yogurt and dried fruit.
Timely – Lastly, a goal must’ve a timeframe – for next week, in three months, by age 35. It must’ve a starting and ending point. It should also have some intermediate points at which progress could be evaluated.
Limiting the time in which a goal should be accomplished helps to focus effort toward its achievement. When you don’t set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now.
